Fradam

.. and what have you done? Hang on, wrong song. Similar idea though, given that yesterday I was queried regarding the origins of Easter, and my thoughts on it. Some people find it odd that I do not see it as the time to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection - similar to the reaction to my feelings on the origins of Christmas - especially as I make no secret of being a Christian.
Let’s start with the etymology, as that might lead to more answers - turning to the all powerful centre of knowledge, Wikipedia.

The modern English term Easter developed from the Old English word Eastre, which itself developed prior to 899. The name refers to the goddess Eostre, who was celebrated at the Spring equinox, and has cognates in Old High German ōstarūn, plural, “Easter” (modern German language Ostern). The Old English term Eastre ultimately derives from ēast - meaning the direction of east. This suggests it originally referred to a goddess associated with dawn. Corresponding traditions occur with the Roman goddess Aurora and the Greek goddess Eos.

So, Easter as a word, has it’s origins in a West Germanic goddess known as Eostre - not too dissimilar in concept to Roman and Greek contemporaries.

What about Easter itself as a festival, or a time of celebration? Well, the way Easter is calculated is based upon the vernal/spring equinox - a day upon which the day and night time hours are approximately equal. Unsurprisingly, this mystic equality led to much revelry amongst other religions at the time - the Wicca for example would partake in a Sabbat about that time. The Christianising of Europe was a process of merging these kinds of festivals so that integration was an easier process. So from a timeline point of view - well, it is coincidental that it marries up well with other festivals of the time - not dissimilar to Christmas.

What about the actual religious / spiritual significance? Much like Christmas, the word Easter is missing from the Bible (you probably would realise this based upon the etymology above), but the idea of acknowledging the death of Christ and celebrating the resurrection? That idea surely isn’t that bad, and actually would be spiritually ‘healthy’, to be reminded of what he died for and such. Well, I agree - which is why I partake in that each week already!

Having said all that, much like Christmas, I do appreciate what Easter provides us now - a time to spend with family (due to public holidays!), the chance to engage in over-commercialisation of chocalata (which we all know is the -real- significance of Easter), and those bread.. things.. with little crosses on them…!

So go on .. have one!

No really, who does? That was the whole idea of the Holy Grail, featured in many quality films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; the pursuit of an alleged fountain of youth - which Indy drank, and leaves me very curious for how young he will be in the latest film. Ofcourse, outside of film, the yearning for such things is well documented in the annals of many cultures… but I often wonder: why?

It’s a scary notion when you account for all your loved ones passing away whilst you simply age… actually, that is quite sad.

Arwen explored the issue, and chose “the mortal life”…What I’d prefer is, living longer, but also, for everyone else around me to live longer too! So the question is, how do we do it? Somewhat fortunately, quality tabloid scientists invaded afternoon radio today to provide some suggestions:

• - Flossing daily can add 4 years
• - Keeping a journal can add 3 years
• - Sleeping 7 hours a day at minimum can add another year
• - A satisfying sex life can add another year (although the researcher in question thought it’d add more!)

So there are some interesting things that we could add possibly add in order to increase the length of life for nearly another decade. Now considering life expectancy here in Australia at the moment is about 78 for males, and 83 for females (ouch!), an extra 9 years could for me be the difference between 78 and 87. Alternatively, I could fall prey to dyslexia and I might not need the 9 years.

On a related note, Kellie (who’s birthday it is today - happy birfday! ) brought my attention to the story of someone else who recently celebrated a 109th birthday party. Yes, 109. How’d he get to that age? He must have had some secret right… and just like I’m trying to now, he shared it with a few people didn’t he?

Mr Ross’s eldest sister died two years ago at 99, and his two other sisters are aged 101 and 94.

Yep, he shared the secret with his closest siblings. Whatever this secret was, it must have been amazing - at 109, he was actually born in the 19th century (!)… meaning his life expectancy can’t have been the 78 we enjoy for Australian males today. In fact, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, life expectancy of males born at the turn of the 20th century was 55.

Whoa.

That means he has nearly doubled his life expectancy, adding (at the moment, touch wood) 54 years on!

But what was the secret? It was right at the start…

AUSTRALIA’S last surviving World War I soldier, Jack Ross, turned 109 today surrounded by his extended family and friends at a nursing home in Victoria.

To mark the occasion, the non-drinker and non-smoker indulged in his one vice - chocolate, and lots of it.

There you have it, chocalata really is the elixir of youth Better than flossing, sleep or sex, chocolate could add a staggering 54 years onto your life - so why don’t you just go ahead and reach for some now?